2015 NHL Draft Prospect: Northeastern Recruit Adam Gaudette

Adam Gaudette

Position: Center
Shoots: Right
2014-15 Team: Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
College Commitment: Northeastern '16
Hometown: Braintree, Mass.
Height/Weight: 6'0.75"/170
Date of Birth: 10/3/96
Final Central Scouting Ranking: 108

A former leading scorer at prep power Thayer Academy, Adam Gaudette brought his game to a whole new level in his draft year with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

The Braintree, Mass. native really stood out at the Beantown Summer Classic and then again at the USHL Atlantic Challenge. He was active in the offensive zone, won a lot of battles for loose pucks and had a quick, hard release. Mark Carlson, his coach in Cedar Rapids, believes Gaudette will become even more of a threat once he bulks up.

"His upside is very high. Once he adds more muscle to his frame, he'll be able to get to the net more and win more puck battles," explained Carlson.

Gaudette, who finished the season with 13 goals and 17 assists in 50 USHL games for Mark Carlson's team, made a sharp climb from the midterm to final rankings. He was ranked 187 by NHL Central Scouting at the midterm before soaring to 108 in the final listing.

Perhaps most impressive was his +23 plus/minus, a remarkable number for a rookie in the USHL. Gaudette was a player that Carlson felt comfortable rolling out onto the ice in all situations.

"His +/- was exceptional. He was dependable. His hockey sense is very good at both ends of the rink," said Carlson, who also raved about his exceptional work ethic. "He just gets after it."

Gaudette was originally slated as a 2016-17 recruit for Northeastern, but with the recent departure of Mike Szmatula from the Huskies program, he could be brought in early. Gaudette is a good prospect who will likely be given the chance to grow in college hockey before signing a deal.

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Jeff Cox covers college, junior, high school and prep hockey, NCAA recruiting and NHL Draft prospects. Follow him on Twitter @JeffCoxSports.